Some people don't like the playoffs

Posted 18 February 2017 - 09:49 AM

gravediGGer

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So why not work towards a balanced schedule rather than argue for highly unbalanced crap shoot that is playoffs. And don't try to compare the world cup or other cup competitions to the playoffs please. I know we will never have a balanced schedule or some kind of fair playoffs, because MLS is not interested in creating an even playing field but maximizing profits. Is there another soccer league in the world that is based on the franchise model and the ownership of contracts by the league rather than the individual teams? The whole thing seems like a joke. But hey I just go to watch the local team play, whatever the format.

Sometimes I think the entire Red Bull existence has been some 19 year old kids football manager save file he only plays when he comes home drunk. - 'Mibabalou'

Posted 19 February 2017 - 04:05 AM

adam22

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This country has been conditioned for playoffs by the major sports leagues that pre-date MLS.

When you are the newest kid on the block, you want a piece of the pie any way you can get it. Implementing a take on the popular system for determining the champion (playoffs) makes a lot of sense when Americans are your target audience.

Focusing on the fact that the rest of the world does not use playoffs just ignores the localized differences that result in the different countries/audiences/etc. We are the USA, not the rest of the world. And in the USA, the billion dollar leagues all have playoffs.

There's also just playing the hand you're dealt. MLS Cup gets the glory. The league sells merch for it. The winners get a parade. It's what gets you the star above your crest.

You can believe we got it wrong with our system (no relegation, unbalanced schedule, playoffs, whatever). And I believe you can make a valid case for most of those points. But reality trumps fantasy land. Playoffs are here to stay. Time to figure out how to succeed in them and get some stars above our crest.

Posted 20 February 2017 - 08:10 PM

JBigjake54

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This country has been conditioned for playoffs by the major sports leagues that pre-date MLS.

It still took a while for playoffs to develop & expand.
IIRC, MLB only has a single playoff series, between the champions of its two separate leagues, from 1903 until 1973. Expansion into divisions has created more demand, and 10 teams now participate.
The NFL did not have playoffs from 1920 to 1933, then only a single championship game between conference winners until 1966 (although there was a playoff game to determine a conference winner in 9 of those years). So, multi-team playoffs have only been an NFL feature since 1967.
The NHL has always had the Stanley Cup, while the NBA was only formed in 1949 & had gimmick playoff formats for several seasons. Since there were only 6 NHL teams (2 in Canada) & 9 NBA teams, most of the USA was unfamiliar with either league.

We are good enough to beat the best teams, and bad enough to lose to the worst teams.

Posted 21 February 2017 - 10:56 PM

JBigjake54

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divisional play in MLB actually started in 1969

Had forgotten the 3-0 sweep of WESTERN champs Atlanta in the warm glow of the 4-1 series win over Baltimore!
Better memories of Mets defeating the Big Red Machine in '73, although those were & are tempered by the series loss to Oakland in 7.

We are good enough to beat the best teams, and bad enough to lose to the worst teams.

Posted 28 February 2017 - 11:03 PM

RandomHero

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Feel like they did this before but that Soccer Fan Council thing MLS runs sent out a survey asking about how happy you were with the MLS playoff format. Hopefully they are leaning towards a single table format.